^::- 






M 






>: 






y>-TM 






^IIC^ 




:!:M^^fe 



^J-^*^'^ 




^"^^^ -'n 



>.:iK 




Class, 



Book.f A 4 1^ i. 



■^J Gopyright]^"- 



COPYRIGHT DEPOSrr. 






S^' 



• ■>. 



n 




#-"^ 



^ . 





&i.^4^^» "- ''"wmmmM 



^etalesljaroo 



AND 



Ct)e s^tar J&ra\3e 



Poetic Dramas by 
HELEN FITZGERALD SANDERS 





McKEE PRINTING COMPANY 

Butte, Montana 
1910 






M- 



p,L 



l^J^ 



Copyright, 1910 
By Helen Fitzgerald Sanders 



;CI.D 203C4 



=^ 



Two Hundred Copies Printed 



No.. 



PETALESHAROO 



INTRODUCTION. 

The incident upon which the following drama is founded is an 
historical fact recorded in " James's Expedition to the Rocky Mountains, 
1819-20." The Pawnee Loups, who claim descent from the early 
Mexican tribes, were probably the only group of American Indians 
guilty of the human sacrifice. Each year in the Spring, just be- 
fore the planting of the seeds, they sacrificed a prisoner captured in war 
to the Great Star, the goddess of harvests, believing that by this means 
they would be favored with large crops and plentiful herds of buffalo. 
The Grand Chief Latelesha, or Knife Chief, a humane and able man, 
determined to abolish the hateful practice. All persuasive measures failing 
to move the people, his eldest son, Petalesharop, the greatest brave of the 
tribe, unaided and alone rescued an letan woman who was about to fall 
beneath the arrows of the assembled multitude. 

After the death of Petalesharoo the Pawnee Loups reverted to the 
ancient custom inherited from their southern ancestors, and at a much 
later date — about 1 845 — Father De Smet in his "Oregon Missions" gives 
a detailed account of the human sacrifice, and to him I am indebted for 
many valuable descriptions of dress, forms, etc., etc. 

According to Father De Smet the Morning Star was the goddess of 
harvests. On the other hand, George Bird Grinnell in his "Indians of 
Today" states that it was the Evening Star to whom the sacrifice was 
made. I do not pretend to settle the point in question, but I have chosen 
to follow Father De Smet, as the idea of the Morning Star conforms best 
to the dramatic setting and action. 

The love story is purely fiction and Sassitka is not an historical per- 
sonage. 

Helen Fitzgerald Sanders. 



CAST OF CHARACTERS. 

Petaleshaioo, son of Latelesha, the Knife Chief. 

Presiding Juggler or Master of Ceremonies. 

Sassitka, the rival of Petalesharoo among the braves. 

Atipaat, an ancient beldam. 

An old woman. 

A runner. 

Musicians, dancers, warriors, and 

A captive letan girl. 



PETALESHAROO. 

An heroic drama in one act and three scenes. Time, about 1815. 



Scene I. A clearing in a dense pine n>ood. It is just before dawn 
and the Morning Star shines brilliantly. To the right of the stage in the 
background is an akkaro, or hut, formed of ^oung trees fastened together 
at the top and covered with turf. A fire burns in the center of the stage. 
In the foreground is a bird stuffed Tviih sacred roots and herbs. Four 
bison heads are arranged about four feet from the fire. Ten musicians, 
pamted half black Q"^ half red, make ti^eird music. Four of these pla\) 
the tekapiroutche, a drum similar to the tom-tom, made b}; stretching deer- 
skin over both ends of a hollowed section of tree trunk three feel long and 
one and a half feet in circumference. Four others ^eep time Jvith dried 
calabashes filled Tvith pebbles. The last two play reed flutes two feet 
long and an inch in diameter, similar to the instruments used by the ancient 
shepherds. To each instrument is tied a tewaara or medicine bag. Four 
sentinels, armed with lances, stand at the four corners of the assembly to 
keep walch and prevent women and children from approaching. The 
Master of Ceremonies or Presiding Juggler is the oldest patriarch of the 
tribe. He is painted entirely red and wears a head-dress of swans-down. 
The musicians and dancers have their hair likewise adorned. The spec- 
tators, besmeared with multicolored paint, clad in pelts, sit or recline to 
the right and left of the Presiding Juggler. Others dance in a circle around 
the fire chanting. 

INVOCATION TO THE GREAT STAR. 

Dancers in Chorus: 

Great Star of Morning, 
Light of the Universe, 
Goddess of Harvests, 
Hail! Heavenly Star! 

Star with thy quiver 
Of far-darting beams. 
Send them like arrows 
Deep into our hearts. 



Behold! we aa'ore thee! 
Famished and hungry. 
Yet do we yield thee 
The last of our stores. 

Bird of the fleet wings. 
Voice of the Great Star, 
Thou who hast circled 
The sweep of the skies. 

Bringing the message 
Of the Great Spirit 
Down to our fathers 
From isles of the stars. 

To the warm country 
Where dwelt our people, 
When from the Deluge 
The world was re-born, 

Still gather thy children 
With ceremonies 
Old as the mountains 
Yet fresh as the Spring, 

Offering to thee 
As thou hast bidden 
On this, thy feast day. 
The Great Sacrifice. 

O! Bride of the Dawn 
Smile thou upon us, 
Grant us rich harvests. 
Abundant, fat herds. 

Great Star of Morning, 
Light of the Universe, 
Goddess of Plenty, 
Hail Heavenly Star! 

—9— 



(The Presiding Juggler gives a piercing cry as a signal. Immediately 
the dancing and singing cease. In perfect silence the dancers take their 
places, responding in chorus:) 

• Neva! Neva! Neva! 'Tis well! O! It is well! 

(The dancers fill the narvishkaro, or calumet, rvith herbs contained in 
the body of the Sacred Bird and offer it to the Presiding Juggler who 
squats by the fire. He strikes it with both hands. One of the guards ad- 
vances and places a living coal from the fire on the pipe. When it is 
lighted the Presiding Juggler, never releasing the calumet, gives a puff to 
each of the musicians. This done, he stands in the center of the assembly 
and, raising his eyes toward the night sky, presents the pipe to the Great 
Spirit and the Morning Star. Pausing a moment in impressive silence, he 
blows three puffs to heaven.) 

Presiding Juggler. O! Tirawaat! Thou Great and Mighty One, 
Look down! Look down, all-seeing Eye of Night 
Upon thy children. Pity us. Great Star, 
And smoke with us the sacred Calumet! 
Chorus. Neva! Neva! Neva! Tis well! O! It is well! 

(The Presiding Juggler offers the pipe to the bison heads, blowing to 
each two puffs, then passes it to the assembled braves. When it is pre- 
sented to Petalesharoo, who is distinguished by his rich head-dress of war 
eagle feathers, his mantle of bison skin, his ornaments of weasel skins, claws 
of white bear and nacre, his shield and long lance, he declines to smoke. 
Sassitka, his rival among the braves, steps forward and addresses the 
Presiding Juggler. ) 

Sassitka. Petalesharoo is traitor to the tribe. 
The letans he hath favored in our wars 
And now he seeks to bring upon our heads 
The wrath of yonder Star whose heavenly orb 
Looks down upon this sacred gathering. 
—10— 



Presiding Juggler. Speak, Petalesharoo! O! noble brave, 

Son of Latelesha, forbear to shame 

Thy father and dishonor thine own name! 
Petalesharoo. Hold ! 'Till ye have heard the will of your Great 
Chief. 

He hath decreed this sacrifice but murder. 

Hateful to the holy Star of Morning 

And him, your leader in both peace and war. 

Therefore do I defy ye in his name! 

(A movement in the assembly. Cries of:) 

Traitor! Death! Forbear, 'tis Latelesha's son! 

(Petalesharoo stands silently, scornfully gazing at the multitude, rvith 
his mantle of bison sl(in folded closely about him.) 

Sassitka. (Addressing the Presiding Juggler.) 

Master, I offer thee this letan girl, 

Her whom I captured on the red war-path. 

Her whom I snatched from out her warriors' ranks 

Even as the eagle with his talons grips 

The frightened field-lark. Her do I yield to thee 

A sacrifice unto the Morning Star, 

So her young blood may fertilize the seeds. 

Enrich the crops and drive down from the hills. 

In plenteous herds, our meat, the buffalo. 
Presiding Juggler. Well hast thou spoken ! 

Braves, what is your will? 

Shall we, the children of the Mighty Star, 

Who, in the morning of the world received 
—11— 



Its will from this far-flying messenger. 

The Sacred Bird, which winged its dizzy flight 

From the remotest azure seas of heaven 

To that warm region drenched in ruddy sun 

Where dwelt our people in the days before 

We came into the cold country of pines and snow 

And bold, cloud-piercing mountain tops, — shall we 

Be turned as weak, faint-hearted squaws 

From rites as ancient as the sun and moon 

To please the Knife Chief, Latelesha? 

Is he to change the worship of the tribe? 

Do ye accept the sacrifice or not? 
Chorus (in deafening shout.) Neva! Neva! Neva! 'Tis well! 

O! It is well! 
Presiding Juggler (rvith arms outstretched toward the Star.) 

O! Tirewaat, thou Great Deliberator 

Of the Universe, and thou, O ! Star ! 

To ye we give the virgin letan maid. 

(There is a short interval of silence, during ivhich the Presiding Jug- 
gler stands attentive, as one listening for a message. There is a rumbling 
sound seeming to issue from the bison heads. Then he cries exultantl'^.) 

Presiding Juggler. The Master of Life accepts the sacrifice! 
Chorus. Neva ! Neva ! Neva ! 'Tis well ! O ! It is well !_ 

(Plates of maize are brought forth, offered to the great manitous, the 
bison heads, and to everyone present. All partake of the feast but 
Petalesharoo.) 

Presiding Juggler. Go forth, O! braves, and bid her to feast. 
Go crying through the village and command 
Each warrior unto the sacrifice! 
—12— 



Sassitka (aside lo Peialesharoo.) Come robed in thy best war dress, 
with thy quiver 
Full of strong arrows, Petalesharoo ! 
Petalesharoo. This is thy hour, Sassitka, mine will come! 

(The assemblv breads up, taking ]viih them the Sacred Bird. They 
pause before the akkaro.) 

Presidmg Juggler. O! letan maid, we make a feast for thee. 

Arise thou with the rising of the sun! 
Chorus (chanting verij softly.) O! Thou shalt wander through the 
cold and dark. 

Through night that never ends and winter snows 

That never melt. Our curse is on thy soul 

And on thy tribe though all eternity! 
Presiding Juggler. Now let us to the village and proclaim 

The tidings of the coming festival. 

(All disperse carrying the Sacred Bird, except Petalesharoo, who 
lingers near the letan s akkaro. The fire goes out.) 



SCENE II. 



(The dawn begins to break and as the sunrise flushes the east the Star 
grows dim. There is the sound of drums beating and shouts in the dis- 
tance.) 

Petalesharoo. Dim grows the Star. It pales and faints and dies 
Before the rising sun as all else fades 
Before the greater light of love. 

(The letan girls appears at the entrance of her akk^fo and seeing 
Petalesharoo comes forth.) 

letan girl. Petalesharoo, is it thou who comest? 

—13— 



I had a dream of noise and battle-cries 

And I am drenched with the cold dew of fright. 

What is afoot? Thy brow is dark. 

Petalesharoo. T^ear not. 

letan girl. Yet I do fear. Last night the lean grey wolves 
Howled to a bloody moon that sped as swift 
Through the black tide of heav'n as a canoe. 
Leaving in its wake a silver foam of stars. 
The deathly owl hooted in the breathless trees 
Until my heart beat like a muffled drum. 
The thunder with hoarse whisper spake in wrath 
From out the clear -night sky, — an evil sign 
Old women say. And Atipaat, the hag. 
Who follows me as constantly as mine 
Own shadow, fondled me and softly spoke 
With honeyed tongue' until her withered hands, 
Carressing, seemed to me like twining serpents. 
Her sweet speech but a poisonous breath that brmgs 

Death and damnation to the fainting soul 

And then I dreamed a dream. O! Such a dream 
Of black and awful horrors that the tongue 
Would fam not utter lest the very words 
Might make the nightmare a reality. 
Still I must tell it. O! methought I stood 
Upon a fallen pme that scarcely spanned 
The wild, tempestuous tide that separates 
The living from the dead. I tottered there 
Distrought. Beneath my feet the mighty pine 



Shook at the awful menace of the flood 

"Whose gaunt, white weaves, like threat'ning arms reached up 

To drag me down into the whirlpool. 

The icy chill of the dank, clammy spray 

Numbed my cramped limbs, possessed my 'wildered brain 

That eddied with an awful dizziness 

And dead things floated on the tide, all stark 
And pale with terror graven in their eyes. 
Others still struggled in the last grim throes 
Battling the cataclysm furiously. 
And I, with falt'ring step and faihng heart. 
Frozen with horror, past the power to cry. 
Clung on the brink of black perdition, when 
Suddenly a brilliant light shone in the sky. 
The dark clouds parted and a Spirit Shape 
Rode down on beams celestial, bent o'er me 
And lifted me in his encircling arms 
Into the pleasant valleys of the blessed. 
Then came the sharp confusion of war-cries 
And I awoke, a-tremble and foredone. 
Petalesharoo. Now hath the night tide like a frightened fawn 
Sped with star-scattering hoofs unto the rim 
O' the world, and with it vanishes 
The haunting dreams and witcheries of darkness. 

(Noises of shouts and drum beats.) 

letan girl. Hark! What are those cries? 

Petalesharoo. The braves prepare a feast. 

letan girl. A feast? 

—15— 



Petalesharoo. A ceremony to yon Star. 

letan girl. How pale and faint it burns in the warm bosom 

Of the sunrise! Hold me closer, closer! 
Petalesharoo. O ! thou dost tremble as the new grass shakes 

Beneath the footstep of the boisterous wind! 
letan girl. O! See how red, how crimson bright the sky 

Is growing in the east. Drenched, drenched with blood! 

Your fawn is wounded by the hunter sun ! 
Petalesharoo. Fear not, my love. The air is sweet with Spring, 

The seeds are sprouting from the pregnant earth. 

The buds are bursting on the forest trees, 

Th^ birds are mating, — harken to their song, — ^ 

And love is blooming in this heart of mine! 
letan girl. Petalesharoo! My brave! My brave! 

{They embrace and are silent a moment, then she shudders again at 
the sound of distant war-cries.) 

Petalesharoo. The sun is rising o'er the mountain tops, 
letan girl. Upon a bloody world. Look at the leaves. 

As scarlet hued are they as though the blight 

Of early frost had sapped their budding life. 

Each drop of dew a-tremble on the grass 

Is crimson as the fresh spilt blood of man. 

I saw the blood-drops fall in rain one time 

In battle, — when I came a prisoner here. 

But prisoner no more am I since thou 

Art now my lover! 
Petalesharoo. Wouldst thou not escape. 

Even upon the fleetest horse of mine. 



If I should offer him to thee and say: 

Here is freedom! Six campfires hence, — but six, — 

And thou shalt lodge within thy native glades. 

United with thy parents and thy tribe, 
letan girl. I would not go. 

Petalesharoo. Think well! Time presses! Hark! 
letan girl. That savage cry again, as though the wolves 

From out of the great Darkness of doomed souls 

Were loosed in one devouring pack to run 

To death eternal, some accursed wretch ! 

{The sounds grorv louder.) 

Petalesharoo. There is a moment left. Wouldst flee as swift 

As the red-tongued forest fire? The horse 

Stands saddled in yon clump of brush ! 
letan girl {Clinging to Petalesharoo.) No! No! 

My love, not even if death o'ershadowed me 

With his black wings ! 
Petalesharoo. Fear not. Have faith in me. 
letan girl. What means this grim foreboding? O! Tell me? 
Petalesharoo. List to the strains of music drawing near ! 

{It is entirely light. Enter Alipaat and another hideous old beldam.) 

Atipaat. We come with precious gifts O! letan girl. 
With claws of bear and discs of virgin pearl. 
With heron plume and deerskin gown. 
With eagle feathers and with white swan's-down. 
O! This will be a merry holiday. 
—17— 



We'll frisk, like fawns, upon the green, in play. 

Thou art to grace a mighty feast that we. 

Thy loving subjects, do prepare for thee! 
letan girl. I thank ye, mothers. O! How kind ye are! 
Atipaat. Come to thy lodge, maid, so we may bedeck thee, 
letan girl (lo Peialesharoo.) Farewell! Thou wilt be at the feast, 
my brave? 

Surely they honor me but for thy sake! 
Petalesharoo. Aye ! Farewell ! Farewell until the feast. 



SCENE III. 



(The stage empties. The letan girl disappears Tvith the old women. 
Exit Peialesharoo to the left. Presently a runner, painted entirely) black 
U'i'.h ivhite clay on his h'jir, wolves' tails fastened to his heels and moc- 
casins of huffCilo hide with the shaggy side out, hounds into the open.) 

Runner. O! Tirawaat! Look down upon thy children! 
However poor, all that they possess is thine. 
And they do yield it to thee willingly. 
Fill thou our hunting grounds with buffalo. 
With elk and deer and herds of antelope. 
Strengthen our arms and make our aim more sure 
That we may smite our enemies in war 
And so renew this sacred sacrifice! 

(In the distance is heard the response:) 

Neva! Neva! Neva! Tis well! O! It is well! 

(The noise of shouts grows louder. Occasionally the war-cry of the 
Scssaskwi is heard. Enter from the woods to the right and left of the 

—18— 



stage the braves of the nation, fantasiically painted and gorgeousl]) attired. 
Some have deer antlers and bison horns fastened about their heads, imild 
cats' and wolves tails at their heels and waists. All conceal their bows, 
arrows and war-clubs. The braves are followed b^ the Tewaaroutche, a 
religious order of great warriors. The^ wear swans-down on their hair 
and their naked bodies are painted black and red. The)) all assemble 
around the letan girFs akk^ro. A cross is erected at the back of the 
stage, at its base fagots are piled and a fire is kindled near b]). Baskets 
of seeds and grain are brought in and placed near the cross. The Sacred 
Bird is displayed in the foreground. Foremost amongst the crowd are 
Sassitka and the Presiding Juggler, who examines his iron-barbed arrow 
carefully. ) 

Presiding Juggler. Draw the baskets closer so the letan's blood 

May fall upon the seeds of maize and beans 

And pumpkins golden as the harvest moon, 

Before we give them to the fruitful earth. 
Sassitka. We are all met but Petalesharoo. 

The son of Latelesha is a coward ! 

{^The pelt curtains on the letan girl's akk'^i'o part, and she stands- 
smiling happily at the multitude of warriors who salute her. She is mag- 
nificently arrayed in a dress of deerskin which reaches to her knees, beau- 
tifully beaded leggings and moccasins ornamented with porcupine quills, 
beads of glass and pearl. A necklace is fastened about her neck, brace- 
lets on her arms, ear-rings in her ears, and on her head is a head-dress of 
grey eagles' feathers and swan's-down extending behind to the ground. 
The old Women fasten about her wrists and ankles long ropes and leathern 
thongs. This done, they deliver her to the Presiding Juggler and Ji's- 
appear. He advances to meet her.) 

letan girl. I am not worthy of this bounteous feast! 
Presiding Juggler. Thou art fairer than the Star of Morning. 

Lovelier than the dawn. O! worthy thou 

To tread the flowery prairie of the skies! 

—19— 
/ 



(The rvar-cry sounds loud and fierce. The letan girl shudders and 
coTvers.) 

letan girl. Thou'rt kind. I . . tremble . . for I am confused. 

Thy ways are strange. ... I understand them not. . . 

Bear with me, father. . . Hold my hand in thine. 
Presiding Juggler. Fear not, O! Quivering Bird, O! Gentlest One, 

This is a part of the Great Feast for thee. 

Plump IS thy body as the autumn grouse 

That feeds on juicy berries, bursting pods. 

For thou hast fattened on sweet maize and beans 

And honey from the wild bees' hidden hives. 

The Great Star loves the round of limb and throat 

With bosoms full as luscious ripening fruit! 

(As he speal(s he leads her toward the cross.) 

letan girl. Wait! Wait a moment! What means yonder cross 

And that grim heap of fagots at its base? 

Why lead me to it? O! I am afraid! 
Presiding Juggler. Come, child! See, I am with thee. All is well. 

(He draws her to the p'^re, stretches ivide her arms and binds her 
tightly with the ropes and thongs to the cross. The girl strains to pull 
away. She looI(s with growing terror at the threatening horde of Warriors, 
who now display and brandish their weapons. No woman or child is 
present. The war-cry swells into a deafening chorus.) 

letan girl. What mean ye by that black and awful threat? 

Ye would not kill me? I am but a maid! 
Sassitka. A maid! An letan dog, our enemy! 
Presiding Juggler. For all the crime that thine accursed tribe 

—20— 



Through generations, hath been guiUy of. 
For all the Pawnee warriors they have slain 
Shalt thou now suffer! 
letan girl. I have not harmed ye, 

O! It is not brave to kill a woman 

Snared and bound as I. Spare me, O! Spare me! 

(War-cries, brandishing of war-cluhs and shouts in chorus.) 

We curse thee, wench! Damnation to thy soul! 

May all the letan warriors perish 

Beneath our arrows as thou now shalt fall ! 
letan girl. No! No! No! Spare me! I will be your slave! 

I'll bear the heaviest burdens of the march! 

O! Turn your awful vengeance from my head 

And spare me, for I cannot— cannot die. 

{The mar-cr}) resounds as the Presiding Juggler despoils her of her 
'ornaments.) 

Presiding Juggler (ivith arms and face raised to the sffies.) 

O! Tirawaat, Master of Life, and thou, 

O! Star, to ye we give this virgin maid 

A sacrifice! 
Chorus. Neva! Neva! Neva! 

(The Presiding Juggler advances, grasps a burning pine -fagot from 
the fire and attempts to l(indle the wood at the base of the cross. He 
scorches the girl's armpits and casting aside the flaming brand smears her 
Tvith red and black paint. He then resumes his place in front of the 
crowd and carefully aims his arrow. At this signal all other arrows are 
aimed. ) 

—21— 



letan girl (s/ir/e/fing.) Petalesharoo! Petalesharoo ! 

(Petalesharoo springs from the pine Teoods onto the p^re before her, 
siretching ivide his arms and baring his breast.) 

Petalesharoo. White-hearted squaws! If ye will kill this child 
Kill first a man. Strike her through my dead body. Shoot! 

{Silence and consternation. A movement of indecision. The arroivs 
falter. All el;es are fixed on the Presiding Juggler. He and Petalesharoo 
gaze at each other fixedl]) until the Presiding Juggler shifts his glance.) 

Presiding Juggler (loivering his arrorv, at which all other arroivs are 
lorvered.) The son of Latelasha shall not fall 

Beneath my arrow. 
Petalesharoo. Spare not me! I wait! 
Presiding Juggler. Descend, descend, O! Petalesharoo. 

Mock not thy elder in both years and wisdom. 
Petalesharoo. Release the letan maid. Loose thou her cords! 

(The Presiding Juggler slorvl]), reluctantly cuts the ropes and thongs 
that bind the girl and Petalesharoo half carries her limp form from the 
p^re.) 

Petalesharoo (to the multitude.) Disperse! From this time forth 
the Pawnee Loups 

Forswear the human sacrifice. 
(To the letan girl.) My love! 

The Night hath vanished and the Star is set. 
Behold! the sun in supreme glory shines 
Upon the spring-decked earth. So shineth thou 
Within the heart of Petalesharoo. 
CURTAIN. 
—22— 



THE STAR BRAVE 



INTRODUCTION. 

The ensuing drama. The Star Brave, is based upon a myth cherished 
by many tribes of North American Indians. 

The legend runs that some of the most briUiant stars are immortal 
warriors, who, by night, issue upon their various quests across the skies. 
It is further whispered that occasionally these heavenly braves come to 
earth and marry human wives. See George Bird Grinnell's "Indians of 
Toda])." 



CAST OF CHARACTERS. 



Cloud-of-Morning. 
Medicine Man. 
Star Brave 



THE STAR BRA VE. 



Scene I. (Interior of a Blackfeei lodge. Indians are sleeping 
on their sacred bundles. Through the open curtains, the peak of Coing- 
to-the-Sun, white Tvith snoTv, is seen b^ starlight. In the fore- 
ground is a veri) old Medicine Man smoking after the Indian fashion. 
Just before him sits a ];oung squaw. A small fire smoulders in the center 
of the stage, which is dimly lighted.) 

Cloud-of-Morning (warming her hands at the fire and shivering.) 
The air grows cold, father. The snow hath fall'n 
Upon the peak of Going-to-the-Sun. 

(Medicine Man nods and looks toward the mouiilam.) 

Cloud-of-Morning. The Winter Man will soon come riding down 

Upon his pale, white horse, scattering snowflakes. 

Sealing the lakes and streams with death-cold ice. 

Laying his numbing finger on the lips 

O' the world and hushing it to silence. 

The busy clouds are weaving snowy shrouds 

To wrap the" earth in, and the wint'ry wind 

Doth gather strength and sharpwi his keen lance 

Withm the caverns of the utmost North. 
See, Father! (Pointing to the open lodge curtains.) 

The heavenly warriors ride the skies! 

Ah! Is it true, I wonder, that they come 

To earth sometimes and marry mortal wives? 

—26— 



Medicine Man. (Speal^ing rvilh suppressed emotion.) Aye! That 
it is! When I was a young man 
But newly entered in the Young Dogs' Lodge, 
The fairest daughter of the tribe became 
The bride of an immortal brave. 

Cloud-of-Morning. O! Strange. 

Medicine Man. When age hath bitten at the heart like frost 
And the sweet flower of our youth is shed. 
The soul of man no longer reaches out 
To things external, but with inverted sight 
Pours o'er the dead Past's treasury and dwells 
With mirthless smile and tears all purified 
Of bitterness, upon that heritage 
Of brighter days, the quickened memory. 
So I, to whom Tomorrow meaneth nought 
But one more camp-fire on the long, long trail 
To the eternal Sand Hills of the Dead, 
Sit by the fire and dream afresh old dreams; 
And shadow-shapes like those that leap and dance 
Upon these walls at every pulse and thrill 
O' the firelight, troop through my brain until 
I see again the braves who fought with me 
And fell and One far brighter than the rest 
Who hath about her brow a crown of stars. 
So when thou spake of Star Braves and the maid 
Who wedded such a warrior, methought 
I lived again that awful night when she 

—27— 



Forsook her mortal friends and rose to dwell 

In heights celestial past the ken of man. 
Cloud-of-Morning. Father, tell me, did she return again? 
Medicine Man. Never. 
Cloud-of-Morning. Thy story fills my heart with fear. 

How lonely, O! how lonely she must be 

Travelling those great sky-seas night by night 

With our dear world as distant as a dream 

Spread out beneath her vainly seeking eyes! 
Medicine Man (meditalively.) It hath always been the loveliest child 

Of all the nat.on that the Star Braves chose. 

She was most beautiful as thou art now 

The fairest daughter of the Blackfeet tribe. 
Cloud-of-Morning. Nay, nay. Father! .How thou dost frighten me! 

(While the}) are speaking a brilliant shooting star is seen in the night 

Cloud-of-Morning (Clasping her h'anJs, then pointing.) O! Father, 

look at yonder falling star! 
Medicine Man. How it doth burn the very core of heav'n! 
Cloud-of-Morning. What meaneth this strange sign? 
Medicine Man. I never saw 

But one such flaming brand plunge from the skies. 
Cloud-of-Morning. And then — And then. Father — -? 
Medicine Man. 'Twas the Star Brave, — 

He who came to wed the maiden long ago. 
Cloud-of-Morning. Look, look again. Father! Can'st thou see a 
light 
That kindles like a signal on the crest 
—28— 



Of Going-to-the-Sun? But never fire 

Made by human hands burned with such cold, white, 

Penetrating beams as yonder radiance. 
Medicine Man. Aye! Even mine eyes bedimmed with age can sec 

The glory of it! 
Cloud-of-Morning. Ah! It comes nearer! 

(The]^ sit silently, intently ivalching the light approach until gradually 
a figure is seen through the glow and a beautiful ^outh glides in betrveen 
the open curtains. He diffuses a Tvonderful brilliance which envelopes the 
Tvhole stage. He carries a quiver of gold-tipped arrows and about him 
floats a shimmering gold and silver spangled garment. The Medicme Man 
and Cloud-of-M orning rise, half bewildered, the girl fearfully clinging to 
the old man. They salute the youth with deep and reverent bows.) 

Medicine Man. Welcome, young Stranger-Brave. Whence comest 

thou? 
Star Brave. O ! I have come from far beyond the clouds 

That float above the crown of yonder peak. 
Cloud-of-Morning (Clinging more closely to the Medicine Man and 
speaking softly to him.) A Star Brave, Father! An Immortal Brave! 
Medicine Man (Bowing low again and addressing the youth.) Mas- 
ter, we greet thee. Tell us of thyself. 
Star Brave. I bathed in silver pools upon the moon 
And climbed her horned mountain-tops. How old, 
How hoary old she seemed! I skimmed the skies 
And plucked the scattered petals of the clouds. 
The yellow bloom of stars, the crystal snowflakes 
Budding in the mist. Gathered the glist'ning 
Jewels of the rain and rode the rainbow 
In the storm-cloud's wake. And yet, and yet 
—29— 



For all these heavenly joys a loneliness 

Possessed me. I had dreams, — haunting desires. 

So when our Lord, the Sun, had gone to rest 

And drawn about his lodge the curtained night. 

And each Star Brave had issued on his quest, 

I stole down here to earth and lighted on 

Yon peak that stands a-tiptoe toward the sky. 
Medicine Man. How is it, youth, that thou wouldst care to come ' 

Amongst us mortals when thou hast the heavens 

To hunt in? 
Star Brave. My mother was a woman. 
Medicine Man. Art thou the child of Snow Bird, fairest maid 

Of all the Blackfeet nation? Speak! 
Star Brave. I am. 

And didst thou, ancient father, know her when 

She lived among the people of the leaves? 
Medicine Man. Yea! Listen, boy. I loved her in the days 

Of my life's Springtime, when my arm was strong 

And fleet my limbs as any buck that skims 

The cairns and caverns of this mountain range. 

I bore the torture of the Young Dogs' Dance 

For her. (Baring his breast and striding the scars.) Behold! 

The scars endure till death. 

Four times the sun rose and four times he set ; 

Four times the moon swam in the dark night sky ; 

And still I danced around the pole, with thongs 

Through my pierced breast, — danced in an agony 

Until the moon grew dim and from h?r disc 
—30— 



Long ropes hung down. Then lo! I leaped, leaped high 
To grasp at them, and fell to earth released. 
She looked on me and smiled and I became 
An honoured member of the Young Dogs' Band. 
So doubly welcome thou within this Lodge. 
Come! Warm thy frosty fingers at the blaze. 
{To the girl.) Quick! CIoud-of-Morning, heap the fagots up 
Until the sparks fly in a whirl of gold! 

{The Star Brave rvatches the girl as she piles up l(nots of pine on 
the fire.) 

Star Brave. O ! Cloud-of-Morning, rosy is thy cheek 
As heavenly clouds that blush beneath the sun's 
Warm kisses. (To the old man.) Are they all so beautiful? 

Medicine Man. Nay, nay. 

Star Brave (Approaching the girl.) Come closer, closer. Let me 
see ihine eyes. 

As deep and dark are they as purple night, — 

As shadowy and full of mystery. 

Yet lighting there within the glooming dusk 

The soul-fires kindle. (She seel^s to turn arva^.) 

Hide them not from me! 

Thy hair! It floweth like a darkling tide! 

(Strokir^g it.) The downy breasts of clouds were not so soft. 

Thy flesh! (Passing his hands over her face and throat.) 
Thy warm, sweet flesh is dewy moist 

As Spring! Thy lips, maid! (Kissing her.) O! Thy treasured 
lips that hold 

—31— 



The ecstacies we dream not of in Heav'n. 

Through the charmed archway of their crimson curves 

I pass into an unguessed Paradise, — 

A garden grown with scented blooms of love. 

O! Cloud-of-Morning, I, immortal brave. 

Do now become a mortal for thy sake. 

I love thee. 

(There is a quiver of lightning and the sound of distant thunder.) 

Cloud-of-Morning. Hark! I am afraid. Star Brave! 

Hear'st thou the Thunder Bird speak from the sky? 

He comes with birds of passage and the Spring, 

With rain and dew and budding things of earth, 

But never with the Winter's blast and snow. 

Some evil omen lies in this. O! Flee! 
Star Brave. Within the magic circle of mine arms 

No harm can reach thee. Who art thou. Beautiful? 
Cloud-of-Morning. I am a child of deep, still woods and peaks 

That thrust their icy lances in the clouds. 

I know nought else but birds and timid things, 

The flowers in their unfolding moon by moon, 

The glades where luscious berries grow. 

The rocks whence gush the purest springs of earth. 
Star Brave. Thy voice sings like the wind among the pines! 

Speak on and fill mine ears with music. Love. 

Say, dost thou sometimes climb the shining peaks. 

And gaze up, up towards heaven and the stars? 

CIoud-of-Morning (Laughing and clapping her hands.) O! Yes, 
yon hoary giant, bearded o'er 

—32— 



With flowing snowdrifts, — he, the ancient Chief 
Of all the mountain-tribe, — hath borne me up 
Upon the very shoulders of the world, 
Where earth seemed far away and e'en the pmes 
Looked small. There have I seen the golden troop 
Of stars; the sad, white moon in vain pursuit 
Of her lost Lord, the Sun. 
Star Brave. It must have been 

Thy Spirit beckoning mine that called me here. 
O! Woman! Little do the cold gods dream 
Of thy perfection, or thou couldst draw down 
From the magnetic spaces of the skies. 
The stars out of their courses, till the sun 
Burnt out his wrath upon unpeopled wastes! 

(Thunder and lighlning.) 

Cloud-of-Morning. Hark, hark again. Brave! 

Medicine Man. The gods are angry! 

Cloud-of-Morning. Hasten, hasten back into the skies before 

The Thunder Bird doth strike with glance of fire! 

O! I would not have one glittering strand 

Of thy bright garment suffer for my sake! 
Star Brave. Then thou dost care? 
Cloud-of-Morning. O! Ask me not, I pray! 

Thy dazzling presence holds me in a thrall. 

Yet I would not forget my Father here. 

Who saved me on the battlefield and raised me 

As. his own. I am as one whose eyelids close 

Beneath the bright-winged Butterfly of Sleep 

That bringeth dreams, — fair dreams, — too fair, — Star Brave! 
Star Brave. I cannot leave thee, maiden. Wilt thou come? 

(Thunder and lightning.) 

—33— 



Medicine Man. Thou'rt mad, Star Brave. Take warning! Fly 
away 

Before it is too late. The wrath of Heav'n 

Is let loose on thee! Mark thou my words, for I 

Have spent a lifetime, drawing to its close. 

Studying the revelations of the gods. 

Yet in the seventy cycles of the sun 

That mark my span of being, never 

Have I seen the skies in such a tumult. 

When the silence of the coming winter should 

Lie like a death-sleep on the tranquil world. 
Star Brave. But a moment Father. (To Cloud- oj -Morning.) 

Wouldst come with me 

To dwell amongst the stars, to sail the skies? 
Cloud-of-Morning. (Trving to draw arva^, vet seeming powerless.) 

No! No! I cannot go! I fear! I fear! 

And yet how lonely will the lean earth seem 

When thou hast risen into Paradise. 
Star Brave. Paradise? O! What is Paradise but Love? 

The skies become a desert if the heart's 

Desire remain on earth. 

(Thunder and Lighning.) 

Medicine Man. The Thunder Bird 

Approaches. The mountains quake beneath the shock. 

What hast thou done to call upon thy head 

The awful vengeance of the Powers Above? 
Star Brave (Speat^ing half in answer to Medicine Man ]^ei parti]) 
to Cloud-of-Morning.) 

O! I have stolen from my heavenly quest, 

Forsaken the pale-rayed betrothed, the gods 

Had chosen for my bride. But what care I 

For wrath of heaven or earth so long as thou, 

—34— 



O! Cloud-of-Morning, quiver on my breast. 

Breathe in my nostrils thy sweet-scented breath. 

Bend on me thme enchanted gaze and yield 

To me the magic of thy kiss. Dost see 

How I adore thee? For thy sake I dare 

The supreme might of all the gods and shades 
of evil. 

Wilt thou go with me and seek 
Some cavern in the mountains where we may 
Hide with our love, until the gods, appeased. 
Invite us to ascend, with them to dwell ? 
Cloud-of-Morning. Why dost thou tempt me? O! Thou hast 
my heart. 
I am as powerless and weak as one 
New-risen from devouring sickness. O ! . . . 

(The Star Brave draivs her tontard the open lodge curtains.) 

Medicine Man. Beware ! There is no cavern deep enough 

To shield ye, no mountain peak so lofty 

As to thwart the power of wrath divine. 

Star Brave. {Half carrying Cloud-of-Moning.) Wilt come with 
me, love? 

Cloud-of-Morning. No. Yes — I — I come! 

(A deafening crash of thunder sounds and a blinding blaze of light 
fills the stage like a sheet of flame. Through the fire is seen a spread of 
wings. The Star Brave disappears as if caught up from above. Cloud- 
of-Morning falls to earth. The Indians who have been sleeping spring to 
their feet and fly in terror. After the light has died aTvay the Medicine 
Man bends over Cloud-of-Morning, feels her heart and lifts her head.) 

Medicine Man. Dead! Dead! Yet who can tell but what her soul, 
Released, hath gone to join her heavenly lover. 
Her Star Brave in the Kingdom of the Skies! 

CURTAIN. 

—35— 



.'':*AR -ir fyib 



►r- ^ 







^^^Z^ifi'. 



^ 






:- -.v'ir -»-,rt: 



^' >^Ban 









t#^ 



.^^■'V* 
-^A^-^ 










^ -^^.^y 



['^^ 






^Y!p^' 



^^^^-^ ' 



a ^ :^»'=4*ili 



»^ 






'A>5«»r' 



^% 













^ 



'^_^^:^JS^^^^ 



One copy del. to Cat. Div. 




^AH L IS 5^ 



7~,ncJ3iEj ■ ■::» — i. F 




LIBRARY OF CONGRESS 



018 349 965 8 



